Shoe cleaning shield



May 28, 1940. Q KLQZA 2,202,560

SHOE CLEANING SHIELD Filed April 1, 1938 Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a shoe cleaning shield and more particularly to a shield or guard for use in cleaning White and so-called sports shoes where two colors of leather are used.

The primary object of the invention is to construct a shield which may be readily snapped over the entire sole edge extension and edge face of the heel to insure that cleaning materials such as the liquid white cleaners will not discolor the leather of the sole and heel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a guard of this character composed of a molded endless band which may be readily positioned on the shoe and one which may be used on either a left or right shoe.

Another object is to provide such a shoe cleaning shield with a constricted portion adjacent the shank of the shoe to insure that the protector will closely hug the shoe around its entire lower contour.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the cleaning shield in position on a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shield per se; 25 Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the shield taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Specifically, in the drawing the cleaning shield or guard consists of a continuous endless resilient band I, which is preferably molded from any suitable resilient or stretchable material, such as rubber latex or rubber compound. Preferably the band I is relatively thin and of approximately uniform thickness.

The endless band is substantially oval or elliptical in shape, as shown in Fig. ,2.

The forward portion 2 of the band is pref-erably concave in cross section as indicated by numeral 3, so that when the device is applied to a shoe the inwardly turned edges 4 and 5 40 will grip the outer edge of the sole edge extension with the edge 4 lying snugly within the welt crease, while the edge 5 lies on the surface of the sole.

The concave cross section terminates at 6 which is adjacent to the front edge of the heel of the shoe, while the rear portion I, which fits around the edge face of the heel is flattened to conform to the outer surface of the heel. This flattened portion '1 extends from the heel breast on each side of the band.

An integral or otherwise secured web member 8 is molded with the band I or secured after formation of the band so as to permanently constrict the heel portion of the shield to insure that the section I will snugly grip around the surface of the heel. The web or tie 8 is preferably positioned so that it joins the long sides of the band I at a point adjacent the heel section 1.

Being composed of a suitable resilient or stretchable material, the band I may be formed symmetrically without making allowance as to whether or not it will be applied to either a right or left hand shoe, and in use the band will preferably be made slightly smaller in contour than the shoe to which it is to be applied, so that, it may be stretched into place and create a tight fit around the sole edge extension and heel.

In cleaning white shoes or shoes having combinations of white and other colored leathers or materials, it is practically impossible to prevent the cleaner from spreading to the sole edge extension and heel, and as this is a most untidy appearance, it has been customary to wash this 20 portion with a rag or brush after the uppers have been cleaned and in many instances to apply a varnish .or shellac to the discolored portions. With the present device this disadvantage is entirely eliminatedand its simplicity and economical manufacture permits it being used in shoe cleaning establishments and in the home.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe shield comprising a molded, stretchable band of approximately uniform thickness, having a substantially oval and'symmetrical contour, which is adapted to be snapped over and to maintain itself snugly adjacent the entire sole edge extension and outer heel surface of'a shoe to be shielded, and resilient webbing joining the long sides of the band and arranged to lie only under the shank of the shoe, the portion of the band adapted to contact the sole edge extension being concave in cross-section.

2. A shoe shield comprising a molded, stretchable, rubber band of approximately uniform thickness having the outline of a symmetrical sole and adapted to be snapped over and to maintain itself snugly adjacent the entire sole edge extension and outer heel surface of .a shoe to be shielded, and webbing joining the long sides of the band and disposed to lie under the shank only of the shoe, the band being concave in cross-section in the portion adapted to contact the sole edge extension.

DANIEL C. KLOZA. 

